DURHAM – Even with the No. 1 national ranking and an undefeated record, the Duke men’s basketball team is happy to be starting anew.

“This is the best time of the year,” guard Tyler Thornton said Friday. “ACC play, every game counts.”

The Atlantic Coast Conference season begins with today’s noon matchup between visiting Wake Forest and Duke. This is the first season of an 18-game ACC slate for each team.

For senior forward Ryan Kelly of Duke, seeing ACC rivals is like embarking on a new venture.

“It’s kind of a whole new start to this season,” he said. “This is our last go-around (as seniors) and we want to do something special.”

Duke has built an impressive list of credentials through the past two months. The real prizes have yet to be doled out.

“This is the best part of the season,” senior forward Mason Plumlee said after Friday’s practice. “I think our games preparing us for ACC have been great.”

Duke’s top ranking nationally is accompanied by a No. 1 strength of schedule. It has been a non-conference slate that coach Mike Krzyzewski has championed.

He said he likes the pace his team has been on this season.

“Sometimes a non-conference schedule like that can wear you out,” he said.

Wake Forest, which is out of the Triad for the first time in more than a month, has won its past three games.

“We’re understanding time and score a little better,” Wake Forest coach Jeff Bzdelik said. “It’s coming together and it’s coming together at the right time because of what’s ahead.”

The Blue Devils, meanwhile, have been given significant resistance twice in the past week in facing challenges from Santa Clara and Davidson. So there’s no reason to think Wake Forest won’t have their attention.

“If you give them confidence, they can do a lot of things,” Kelly said of the Demon Deacons, whose lineup includes veteran standouts C.J. Harris and Travis McKie.

The Demon Deacons are 0-4 all-time when ACC openers have been played against Duke.

Duke hasn’t lost an ACC opener since 2007 in a home game against Virginia Tech.

But looking forward tends to be the most exciting part for the Blue Devils.

“We know we can get better,” guard Quinn Cook said. “It’s a long season.”